Denmark to Accept Norse God Marriages

[Cimbri]

Denmark to Accept Norse God Marriages
Wed Nov 5,10:46 AM ET

By JAN M. OLSEN, Associated Press Writer

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Home to the Vikings of yore, Denmark said
Wednesday it will let a group that worships Thor, Odin and other
Norse gods conduct legally-recognized marriages.

"To me, it would be wrong if the indigenous religion of this country
wasn't recognized," Tove Fergo, the minister for Ecclesiastic Affairs
and a Lutheran priest, told The Associated Press.

Under Danish law, the state Evangelical Lutheran Church has sole
authority to recognize other religious communities.

The 240-member Forn Sidr, which worships Odin, Thor, Freya and the
other members of the Norse pantheon, sought recognition in 1999, said
Tissel Jacobsen, the group's president.

Last year, an Ecclesiastic Affairs panel of scholars recommended that
Forn Sidr, whose name mean "Old Custom" in old Norse, be approved,
but only if their rituals were clearly detailed in its bylaws.

"At a general assembly, we added and described our four annual
heathen rituals — spring and fall equinoxes, and the summer and
winter solstices, and our marriage ceremony," Jacobsen told the
AP. "We then returned our application and the panel approved it."

Fergo said she would give her final approval "in a few days."

About 1,000 people worship the ancient gods in Denmark, Jacobsen
said.

Since 1998, the panel of theology, law and history scholars have
advised the government on which groups seeking to become religious
communities, should be recognized.

"It was not up to me to evaluate whether they are telling the truth
or the quality of their religion," Fergo said. "Based on the
commission's evaluation and what I have read, I consider it a good
religion."

Officially recognized religious communities can marry people and
exempt their members from the 1 percent income tax that is imposed on
members of the state church.

People born in Denmark are automatically made members of the state
church, but can choose to leave it if they want. Members of other
recognized religious communities, such Catholics, Muslims and Jews,
are also exempt from the tax.


I, for one, is euphoric. Beer is on me tonight

 

[Riesstiu IV]

So will you be getting a marriage with Nordic gods Cimbri?

 

[Cimbri]

Indeed I will

 

[thestonesfan]

Sweet! If it wasn't too late for me, I'd make my wife wear one of those pointy iron boob protectors or whatever they were!

 

[Cimbri]

That’s not quite the Nordic style, but it sure does sound entertaining.

 

[thestonesfan]

Originally posted by Cimbri
That’s not quite the Nordic style, but it sure does sound entertaining.

When it comes to boobs, historical considerations are secondary!

 

[Archer 007]

Next they'll be lets goat conduce ceremonies (a pun from US history relating to women's education, just to be clear )

@thestonesfan

Who needs history when you've got boobs?

 

[Xen]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

finally,a sign that the old ways are now becoming more acceptable in the modern times

I cant begin to describe how pleased i ma with this, and I hope that similer practices are adopted by all

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Finally a step in the right direction

Hell, we let Elvis marry people, over here in the States. Why not Thor?

 

[Mescalhead]

Thats great news. The Scandinavians were some of the last Europeans Christianized. I always felt they would be the first re-Heathenized. Though I doubt this will significantly promote any trend in indigenous Germanic religion.

 

[Roundman]

I bet European Neo-Nazis are thrilled.

 

[Mescalhead]

That's obvious. Is there a further point to be made?

 

[Roundman]

Originally posted by Mescalhead
That's obvious. Is there a further point to be made?

Nope

 

[naervod]

Good for Denmark. I'm glad nations these days are showing more and more religious tolerance and acceptance.

 

[Sims2789]

Denmark should recognize marriages of all religions and let non-religious people get married. and they should have no state religion. but, at least this is a start.

 

[funxus]

Originally posted by sims2789
Denmark should recognize marriages of all religions and let non-religious people get married. and they should have no state religion. but, at least this is a start.

I think the best way would be to only have one way to register marriage, at some state department, and then let people fix the ceremony however they want it done. Allready, you can marry without any religious involvement.

 

[test_specimen]

Originally posted by Roundman
I bet European Neo-Nazis are thrilled.

Do you think that Skins will organise bus travels to get married in Denmark? Do Skins even get women? What are Danish laws about shotgun weddings? Is there a special exemption from the gun laws, if you want to make one?

If this religion especially attracts Nazis, the decision raises more questions than it solves.

 

[Gothmog]

That is a step in the right direction.
As funxus says, in America one can marry without any religious involvement. I was legally married in a courthouse before a judge; only my wife and me were present. A year later, we had a marriage ceremony for friends and family; there was no pastor of any kind present (though I did consider both a pagan and a Buddhist). We designed and carried out the ceremony all by ourselves, everyone present cried.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Originally posted by Gothmog
We designed and carried out the ceremony all by ourselves, everyone present cried.

Was onion chopping part of the ceremony?

 

[RoddyVR]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead

Was onion chopping part of the ceremony?

thank you. that is the funniest thing i've read in a LONG time.